Procedures · Hand & Upper Extremity Surgery
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common nerve compression in the hand. The median nerve passes through a narrow passage at the wrist, and when pressure inside this passage rises, the nerve begins to misfire — numbness, tingling, pain, and in advanced cases weakness.
Care is led by Dr. Khalid Almutairi, a consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon, fellowship trained in hand surgery and microsurgery in Canada and the USA.
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Care begins with an unhurried consultation with Dr. Khalid Almutairi to assess your case and discuss the options appropriate for you.
Typical symptoms
Common symptoms include numbness and tingling in the thumb, index, middle, and part of the ring finger. Symptoms frequently wake patients at night, or appear while driving or holding a phone. As the condition advances, grip may weaken and objects may be dropped; in advanced cases the muscles at the base of the thumb may visibly waste.
Numbness that is present most of the time, or the appearance of weakness and muscle wasting, warrants assessment without delay — severe, long-standing compression can leave changes that do not fully recover even after surgery.
How is it diagnosed?
Diagnosis rests mainly on the history and clinical examination. Electrodiagnostic testing (nerve conduction studies and EMG) may be requested where needed — to confirm the diagnosis, grade severity, or exclude other causes of numbness — but is not required for every patient.
Non-surgical treatment
In mild and moderate cases, a night splint holding the wrist in a neutral position may be tried, together with modifying aggravating activities. A corticosteroid injection may be discussed in selected cases, with the understanding that its effect is often temporary. The response to these options is assessed before any surgical decision.
When is surgery considered?
Carpal tunnel release is discussed when symptoms persist or progress despite conservative treatment, when weakness or muscle wasting is present, or when testing shows severe compression. Surgery is an individual decision built on symptoms, examination, and the demands of the patient's daily life.
What does the operation involve?
Carpal tunnel release is a short procedure, usually performed under local anaesthesia as a day case: the roof of the tunnel (the transverse carpal ligament) is divided so the passage widens and pressure on the nerve is relieved. The doctor explains the details and the approach appropriate to your case after assessment.
Recovery
Many patients use the hand for light activities within days, following their instructions, and night-time numbness often improves early. Grip strength and scar comfort improve gradually over weeks to months. In advanced or long-standing cases, recovery of sensation can be slow or incomplete: surgery removes the pressure, but the nerve's own capacity to recover differs between patients.
Limitations and risks
Risks of this operation are generally low. They include scar tenderness for a period, infection, incomplete relief of symptoms — particularly with severe long-standing compression — uncommon recurrence, and rare nerve injury. The risks relevant to your case are discussed before any decision.
Do symptoms always improve after surgery?
Most patients improve, and night-time numbness usually improves early and noticeably. Numbness that has been constant for years, or established muscle wasting, may improve only partially; realistic expectations are discussed before surgery.
When can I return to work?
Many patients return to desk-based work within days to two weeks depending on the nature of their work, while heavy manual work needs longer. Individual instructions are the reference.
Can the syndrome come back after release?
Recurrence after a complete release is uncommon. If symptoms return, the case is reassessed to identify the cause and the appropriate option.
Is an injection an alternative to surgery?
A corticosteroid injection may relieve symptoms in selected cases, but its effect is often temporary, and it is not a substitute for release where compression is severe or muscle weakness is present.
Medical-information notice
This is general information and does not replace consultation and examination. Not all hand numbness is carpal tunnel syndrome; medical assessment determines the diagnosis and the appropriate option.